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Firefighters were called to the Shadow Creek Apartments in 5700 block of East 96th Place at 8:30 a.m. Fire crews reported light smoke showing from the third floor of a three-story apartment when they arrived at the scene.

Authorities reported that all five injured people, including three children, lived in one apartment. A woman, reported to be the mother of the children, was in critical condition, according to firefighters at the scene.

Aisha Hinds was rescued from her apartment after she found heavy smoke in the hallway.

"I heard my fire detectors going off, and I got up and started running. I opened my door and the smoke came in. I shut my door and smoke was still coming in. So I had to stand on my balcony until the police got here," Hinds said.

Hinds, who was treated for minor smoke inhalation, said she is friends with the family injured in the fire. She said the children are under the age of 5.

Another person was treated after falling down the stairs.

The cause of the fire is under investigation by Kansas City's Bomb and Arson squad.

"Because of the extent of the injuries. We have five people that have been burned, and because of the extent of the injuries generally we'll call police bomb and arson (investigators) out to the scene," said Battalion Chief James Garrett of the Kansas City Fire Department.

Investigators said it may be some time before people are allowed back into the units near the one where the fire appears to have started.